On Christmas Day 1897, at
the age of 21, Charley married 16-year-old Alcestia
Pearl Ritenour (1881-1948), daughter of "Senator" Joseph G. Ritenour,
who was "a well known auctioneer of the Indian Creek Valley," said a local
newspaper. The ceremony was held at the bride's home near Normalville,
officiated by justice of the peace A.G.C. Sherbondy.

Sadly, the Roses lost five of their children at
ages far too young.Son Chester
died of diphtheria at age four on March 10, 1911. Virgil passed away at age 22 months,
on Jan. 28, 1921, of peritonitis and intestinal obstruction. Vera Elander died at only four days of
age, as a "blue baby" on April 17, 1924, after her mother's protracted
labor. Adding to the heartache, son Milford passed away at age 28,
and daughter Colona died at age 31.

Charley was active in the community, and ran
for Judge of Elections in Springfield Township in 1901.He also helped organize a
basket picnic in 1897 which featured bands from
Saltlick and Normalville. The Connellsville Courier said "Much
credit is due to the earnest efforts" that he and others played in the
effort.

At
one point in time, likely in the 1890s or early 1900s, Charley either purchased
or started his own photography studio in Normalville. Seen here is
the only evidence of this short-lived entrepreneurial business venture -- a portrait of a
baby, seated in a chair. The image is mounted on heavy cardboard, with Charley's
name stamped on the front at the bottom. This is a very rare imprint. (An
enlarged
version was our "Photo of the Month" in November
2006.)

A year after marriage, in February 1900,
Charley and Alcestia moved to Broad Ford, near Connellsville, likely to obtain
employment as a laborer at
the booming coke ovens of the H.C. Frick Coke Co. The Roses did not stay long, and by May had
moved back home and purchased a farm from Daniel Porterfield.

A year later, in 1901, Charley had a
telephone installed in his home, one of only 53 local residents to subscribe to
the Klondike Telephone Company. The entrepreneurial company had completed a line
to near Indian Head, and had further growth plans.

Ruins of old Fayette Furnace
near Rogers Mill

In 1906, the Roses were living in
Vanderbilt, Fayette County, but by 1913 had moved again to Rogers Mills, Fayette County. There, they were members of the
Rogers Mills Community Church. They lived not far from the ruins of the old Fayette Furnace,
seen
here. The furnace was built in 1825 by Joseph and George Rogers to produce
pig iron, and ceased operations after 12 years, in 1837. The structure was still in
"an excellent state of preservation" in about 1910, when this
colorized photo was taken, and still stands today.

When the federal census was taken of Fayette
County in 1910, Charles was employed as a "miner" in a "coal
bank." He and Alcestia had been married for 13 years, and had six children.

Charley registered
for the military draft during World War I. He told the registration agent that
he was a coal miner and operator, working on his own behalf, and that Alcestia
was his nearest relative.

Interested in family ties, Charley attended
the second annual McDowell-Miner-Ritenour reunion in 1929, held at Hillcrest Park
near Connellsville. His cousins Grant, William
and John R. Miner were organizers of the
event.

Daily
Courier, 1951

Sadly, at age 67, Alcestia passed away on
June 4, 1948.

Charley outlived her by three years.

In 1951, said the Courier, Charley
and a son in law and daughter "were en route to Niagara Falls, N.Y., for a
vacation at the time the elder man was stricken … suffering a cerebral
hemorrhage…"He was rushed
to Maple Avenue Hospital in Dubois, PA, where he died on July 2, 1951. His
remains were returned to Normalville for burial beside his wife at Normalville Cemetery.

~
Son Percy Rose ~

Son Percy Rose (1898-1938)
was born on Feb. 11, 1898 near Normalville. As an adult, he was of medium height
and stout build, with blue eyes and brown hair.

He married Edith Reich
(1900-1992), daughter of August Reich of Springfield Pike, and lived in
Normalville. They were members of the Normalville United Brethren Church.

They had two
children -- Gladys "Elva" Ritenour and LaVerne Fabian.

Percy was a coal miner near Normalville circa
1918-1920, employed by the Bell & Rose Coal Company. In September 1918, he
registered for the military draft during World War I, and claimed his father as
his next of kin.

Circa 1927, Percy was employed as a
coal truck driver. That year, on Dec. 1, 1927, he and a brother were riding
together when the truck went out of control, striking a pole. Percy's knee was
injured slightly, but the brother (not yet identified) was "thrown against
the windshield" and cut by the broken glass, reported the Connellsville
Daily Courier.

Trouble arose in the summer of 1930
when Percy, his brother Charles and their father were accused of stealing copper
wire and steel rails in Springfield Township. A grand jury found that they
should stand trial, and their names were published in a related article in the Uniontown
Morning Herald.

In the summer of 1937, he took out a
classified advertisement in the Courier, offering to trade an electric
washing machine for a gasoline-powered one.

Tragically, Percy
contracted an incurable case of scarlet fever in April 1938. He declined quickly
and, at the age of 39, died on April 13, 1938, at home. The Uniontown
Morning Herald said he "was widely known through Springfield
township... A private funeral service was held" in the Normalville
Cemetery.

Afterward, Edith
published a "card of thanks" in the Courier, saying "We
wish to take this means of thanking our many friends and neighbors for the
kindness and sympathy extended us during our recent sad bereavement, the sudden
death of our beloved husband and father, Percy Rose. Especially do we wish to
thank the minister, the singers, the pallbearers, those who sent flowers, those
who so kindly furnished cars and all who assisted us in any way."

Edith later remarried to Samuel
Basinger ( ? -1968) and resided in Dunbar, Fayette County
in her later years. She was employed at Connellsville State General Hospital, and a
member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses of Connellsville.

She died at age 92 on Dec. 10, 1992, and left behind 16
grandchildren and 16 Grandchildren.

Daughter
Laverne Rose (1924-1980) was born on Feb. 28, 1924, and was just 14 when her
father died. At the age of 20, she married Frank J. Fabian ( ? - ? ) on March
15, 1944 in Uniontown. The Fabians had two sons, Frank R. Fabian and David
Fabian. Sadly, Laverne died in 1980 at the age of 56. Frank married again, to
Louise (Taxacher) Cable (1926-2015), daughter of Edward H. and Mary (Baker)
Taxacher of Connellsville. Louise was employed at Anchor Hocking Corporation in
South Connellsville and for more than two decades at the Wonder Bar Restaurant.
Frank's fate is not yet known. Louise died at the age of 88, on Feb. 22, 2015,
at South Connellsville Personal Care Home. Burial was in Green Ridge Memorial
Park, with an obituary printed in the Daily Courier.

Grandson David Fabian
(1948-1971) was born on May 6, 1948. He made tragic news on Jan. 1, 1971 when he drowned
at age 22 during
"a three-year New Year's ritual swim of the Youghiogheny River" near
Connellsville, said the Courier.

Daughter Gladys "Elva" Rose
(1928-2017) was born on Jan. 19, 1928 in Normalville. She wed James R. Ritenour
(1927-1997), and they were married for 52 years. "He was employed by the
Connellsville Municipal Water Authority for 17 years as an operator," said
the Connellsville Daily Courier. "He also worked for various coal mines throughout
the area for several years. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran." The couple produced eight children -- Gary Franklin Ritenour, Sylvia E. Burkett, Karen Joy Wilson,
Geraldine Ritenour, Gloria Richter, Harry Robert Ritenour, James A. Ritenour and
Wayne Ritenour. Sadly, their daughter Geraldine died in infancy). James passed away at age 69 on Valentine's Day 1997, and
was buried in the Normalville Cemetery. At the time of James' death, he and
Elva had produced 17 grandchildren and 12 grandchildren. Elva survived her husband by more than two decades. She was a member of the Ace Bowling League and attended Pechin Chapel in Dunbar, Fayette County, where she spent her final years. She passed into eternal peace at the age of 89 on Dec. 11, 2017, while surrounded by her family at home. Following funeral services led by distant cousin Rev. Lee Maley (of the family of Martha Ellen [Mayle]) Mayle), her remains were lowered into repose in Normalville Cemetery. An obituary was published in the Daily Courier.

Grandson
Gary Franklin Ritenour (1949-2016) was born on Nov. 7, 1949 in Connellsville. Following high school graduation in 1968, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, achieving the rank of lance corporal. He was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart. In about 1971, when he would have been 22 years of age, he married Ruth "Jane" Wiltrout ( ? - ? ). They had three children -- Jane Omatick, Gary Ritenour and Tiffany Clark. Gary was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Connellsville Christian Missionary & Alliance Church. "He was an avid sports fan and loved watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates," said the Connellsville Daily Courier. They made their home in South Connellsville. Sadly, while undergoing medical treatment at the V.A. hospital in Pittsburgh, Gary died in 2016 at the age of 66. Burial was in Normalville Cemetery.

Granddaughter
Sylvia E. Ritenour wed Dennis R. Burkett in about 1971. Their residence in 2016 was in St. Marys, PA.

Granddaughter
Karen Joy Ritenour married Albert Lee Wilson in about 1974. Their home in 2016 as in Dunbar.

Granddaughter
Geraldine Ritenour ( ? - ? ) was deceased by 2016.

Granddaughter
Gloria Ritenour married Anthony "Tony" Richter. In 2016, they lived in Connellsville.

Grandson
Harry Robert "Bob" Ritenour was married twice -- to Mary J. Echard and to Lynne White. Circa 2016, he and Lynne made their home in Dunbar, Fayette County.

Grandson
James A. Ritenour may have married Carol (?) and Michele (?). He and Michele resided in Connellsville.

Grandson
Wayne Ritenour wed Melissa Bower. They live in Dunbar.

~
Son Milford Rose ~

Son Milford Rose (1900-1928)
was born in 1900.

He married Inez
Lowery ( ? - ? ), the ward of the family of Alonzo and Carrie (Lowry) Ritenour
of Indian Head, Fayette County. The foster father opposed the marriage.
In July 1926, he and Milford made headlines in the Daily
Courier when they were arrested after aiming firearms on each other during a
heated dispute at the Rose residence, and after Ritenour claimed Milford had
shot him through the shirt.

Milford and Inez went
on to have two children -- Milford Rose Jr. and Verda Elender Kent.

Tragically, Milford died at age 28 on Aug. 13, 1928, "of typhoid fever, believed
to have been contracted by drinking water from a spring," said the Daily
Courier. "He was taken ill three weeks ago." His funeral was well
attended -- said the Courier, "Six girls, who are at the Pittsburg
First Presbyterian Church camp, near the Rose home, sang at the house. One of
the girls accompanied them on the flute. Members of the church choir rendered
selections" at the United Brethren Church of Normalville. Pallbearers were
Russell Porterfield, Martin Porterfield, Alvin Johnson, Earl Ritenour, Robert
Hensel and Frank Basinger.

Inez later married to (?) Grant. She
may have had one more daughter (or step-daughter), Kathleen Fogle.

H.J. Heinz Co.
plant in Pittsburgh

In 1939, daughter
Verda became a child bride at age 13 when she married James Kent, age 25. The
nuptials, with the blessing of her mother, generated controversy and newspaper
stories. Fayette County authorities investigated and "found the couple
living in a one-room shack at Clinton near Connellsville," said the Courier.

In 1945, Inez made
her home in Normalville. By 1973, she moved to Lodi, OH.

Daughter Verda
Rose resided in 1947 in a boarding house on Pittsburgh's North Side, where James worked
at H.J. Heinz Co. Tragically, the Kents again made headlines in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
when James died on July 17, 1947 of a self-inflicted shooting after threatening
his wife. His remains were returned to Fayette County for burial in Normalville
Cemetery.

~
Daughter Colona (Rose) Porterfield ~

Daughter Colona
May Rose (1902-1933) was born on June 1, 1902 near Normalville.

Tragically, Colona suffered from chronic heart disease and came down with a deadly case of bronchial pneumonia in the summer of 1933. Unable to rally, she succumbed on Aug. 6, 1933 at Connellsville State Hospital at the
age of 31. Interment was in Normalville Cemetery.

Roy later
married again to Leona E. Baxter (1913-2001) and had several more children. They
were members of the Otterbein United Methodist Church of Connellsville.

They suffered also
endured the specter of deaths with the passing of sons Marshall in 1966 and Sturgis (a
self-employed lumberman residing in Carmichaels, Greene County) in 1967.

Roy
passed away at age 71 on Aug. 21, 1975, with burial in the Normalville Cemetery.
At the time of his passing, he and his wives had offspring including 39
grandchildren and 29 Grandchildren. Leona died at age 87 on Feb. 21, 2001,
and is buried in Normalville Cemetery.

Son Roy Sturgis
Porterfield (1923?-1967) was born in about 1923. He married Jessie Howard (1923-
? ) on Sept. 27, 1944, in Connellsville. they had four children: Roy Sturgis
Porterfield Jr., Ronnie L. Porterfield, John E. Porterfield and Darla Jean
Porterfield. Tragically, Roy died at the age of 44 on March 15, 1967. He was
laid to rest in Laurel Point Cemetery in Carmichaels, Greene County, PA.

Maple Grove Park
swimming pool, a landmark in Champion, PA

Son Melvin V.
Porterfield (1925-2009) married Eva Jean Nicholson ( ? - ? ). They made
their home in Champion, Fayette County, and had seven children -- Richard
Porterfield, Judy Mansberry, Penny Zylka, Robin Porterfield, Randy
Porterfield, Roger Porterfield and Jill Wagner. Said the Somerset Daily
American, Melvin was "employed as a caretaker at the Gale Crest
Farm in Somerset County." Melvin died at the age of 84 on Nov. 2, 2009,
with burial in Normalville Cemetery. At the time he and Eva Jean had
produced 17 grandchildren, one step grandson, 14 Grandchildren and two
step-great grandchildren.

Daughter
Elera Della "Ellery" Porterfield (1928-2015) was born on May 6, 1928
in Normalville. In about 1945, when she was 17 years of age, she married
19-year-old Lorenzo "Renzie" Johnson (1926-2003), son of Alvin R. and Effie
(Schmuck) Johnson of Mill Run. They lived
near Connellsville. At the age of 19 in November 1945, Lorenzo was employed by
the Beacon Fuel Company. While at work, a piece of timber fell on him, injuring
his left foot, right elbow and right ear. Elera was hurt in October 1956, at age
28, when her automobile was involved in an accident in Indian Head, Fayette
County. They produced one son, Earl Johnson. Elera worked as a seamstress over
the years at Connellsville Sportswear, a position from which she eventually
retired. Lorenzo was employed for two decades as a truck driver for Mastowski-Fullem Lumber
Co. Reported the Connellsville Daily Courier, "He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He loved to attend auctions and flea markets with his wife."
He also was a member of the Eagles lodge. Sadly, Lorenzo died on Nov. 26, 2003,
terminating their marriage of 58 years. Elera survived him by a dozen years. She
joined him in eternity on Oct. 14, 2015. Her remains were placed into repose in
Normalville Cemetery.

Grandson Earl
Brooks Johnson married Karen and dwelled in Connellsville in 2015.Their two
daughters were Tina Savage and Paula Cline.

~
Daughter Elvarene (Rose) Johnson ~

Daughter Elvarene Rose (1905-1956)
was born on May 25, 1905 in Normalville.

She married Gilbert
Van Johnson (Feb. 9, 1909-1959) on Oct. 28, 1929, when she was age 24 and he 20. He was
the son of Wade and Mary (Diehle) Johnson of Mill Run, Fayette County.

The Johnsons reputedly were a professed warlock and witch couple, practicing in the occult arts over the years. It's been said that curses were placed on one or more of their baby grandchildren.

Sadly,
Elvarene suffered with heart disease for a 15-year duration and also with
hypertension and asthma. She died from their effects at
age 50, on Jan. 4, 1956. She was buried at the Normalville Cemetery.

Gilbert survived her
by just three years. Tragically, while driving along Route 381 in Mill Run in
the afternoon of Nov. 5, 1959, his vehicle overturned when it struck an
abutment, resulting in a fracture of his cervical vertebrae. He was rushed to
Connellsville State Hospital, where the Daily Courier newspaper reported
that the accident was "minor" and that he was treated for "small
abrasions" of both ears. But the injuries were deceiving, and in fact his cervical vertebrae were fractured. The injuries could not be fixed, leading to death
three days at the age of 50, on Nov. 8, 1959. Interment was in Normalville Cemetery.

Son Darrell Van
Johnson (1928-2000) was born on May 3, 1928. On Jan.
4, 1950, he was age 21, he married a distant cousin, 14-year-old Evelyn Marie Miner, daughter of Edward
and Gertrude (Bowers) Miner. The couple divorced. See the Miner bio for more on this family.

Daughter Laura
Rene Johnson married John Whipkey and Leland Dale Lanning. In 1959, her
home was in Normalville.

Daughter Norma
Jean Johnson (1939-2015) was born on April 8, 1939 in Normalville. At the age of
17, she wed James Russell Swope in 1956 in Connellsville. Their children
were Wanda Sue McCormick, Barbara E. Lewis, Wendy C. Cline Fogle, Terry R. Swope,
Dale M. Swope, James Thomas Swope and Barron Scott Swope. The family made their
home in Scottdale, Fayette County. Norma Jean passed away at the age of 76 on
Aug. 16, 2015 in the Country Haven Personal Care Home. She was placed into
eternal repose in Normalville Cemetery following a funeral service led by Pastor
Warren Upton. An obituary was published in the Connellsville Daily Courier.

Son Alfred
Johnson lived at home with his widowed father in 1959. he is thought to have married Edna (?) and later JoAnn Legas. He
was deceased by 2015.

Daughter Dorothy
A. Johnson married Richard G. Bowers in 1962 in Connellsville. They had one
known daughter, Sharon Renee Miller. Dorothy later married Charles William West
in 1990. Her home later was in Stahlstown.

Daughter Dolly
Johnson married (?) Whipkey and lived in New York.

~
Daughter Nettie Bell (Rose) Durstine ~

Daughter
Nettie Bell Rose (1908-2007) was born in 1908.

She married Rev. Boyd Emerson Durstine (1908-1977) on Aug. 21, 1939. He
was the son of Arthur and Daisy Pearl (Williams) Durstine and a native of
Scottdale, Westmoreland County, PA. At the time of marriage, Nettie and Boyd
both were age 21, and he was employed as a laborer in Champion, Fayette County.
The couple requested that the news not be published in a newspaper.

They
resided in the Normalville area, and had eight children, including Marjorie Bell
"Margie" Dumbauld, Ivy
Christman, Althea "Kay" Pletcher, and an infant daughter and son, and infant triplets.

Nettie "was a loving homemaker, mother, grandmother,
Grandmother and
sister to her family," said the Daily Courier. "She liked to
bake, garden, pick berries, make quilts, and canning fruits and
vegetables." They resided on a 25-acre home farm property. A housefire
claimed their home, but the foundation remains today, and is co-owned by their
daughters.

Sadly, the Durstines'
marriage fell apart, and they divorced.

Boyd's grave,
Jersey Church Cemetery

Boyd remarried to Audrey (Lanning) Eutsey (1936-2001), and they made their home
in Confluence, Somerset County. She had been married before and brought two sons
to the marriage -- Edward Eutsey and John Eutsey. They went on to have the
following children of their own -- Robert Lee Durstine, William Boyd Durstine,
Eunice Sue Durstine and Lywanna Lynn Durstine.

Boyd served for a dozen years as pastor of the Greenbrier Full Gospel Church. He
died on May 21, 1977, at the age of 56. Burial was in Jersey Church
Cemetery in nearby Ursina, Somerset County, PA. An obituary was published in the
Connellsville Daily Courier.

Nettie passed away at the age of 85 on April 21, 2007, at
Highlands Hospital, with burial at Normalville Cemetery.

Daughter Ivy
Della Durstine (1940- ? ) was born on Aug. 14, 1940. At the age of 18, she married
19-year-old Donald
Clifford Christman (1940-2001), a resident of White, Fayette County. The
couple was wed in Cumberland, MD in July 1959. They had one daughter, Tracy Lynn Ritenour.
Donald passed away on Dec. 10, 2001, with burial in Normalville Cemetery. When
photographed in 2013, the Christman grave marker was highly decorated with pink,
white and light blue flowers and small. American flags.

Daughter Althea
" Kay"
Durstine (1955-2012) was born on Dec. 8, 1955 in Connellsville. She was raised
by her uncle and aunt, Dewey and Zolla (Rose) Swope. At the age of 23, Kay
married Dean E. Pletcher in about 1978. They had one daughter, Kristin Nicole Pletcher.
Kay was employed as a secretary with Anchor Hocking Company in Connellsville.
She also was an instructor in adult computer classes at Connellsville Vo-Tech
School. The Greensburg Tribune Review reported that she "helped out
with Vacation Bible School and always enjoyed sharing the love of God and her
faith in Jesus. Kay enjoyed flea marketing, yard sales and especially getting
bargains for her family. When Kay wasn't enjoying her favorite stores, she spent
most of her time with her family, planting flowers and being outside playing
with her favorite dog, Doodle." When she came down with cancer, she was
supported in prayer by the Normalville United Methodist Church and drew support
from the Nicholson Cancer Fund. Kay passed away at the age of 56 on July 26,
2012. Her obituary in the Tribune-Review said she had "a joyous,
kind and loving presence and enjoyed helping others. Kay had such a kind soul
that many times she put others' needs ahead of her own." She was laid to
rest in the Normalville Cemetery, joining four earlier generations of her
ancestors, dating to 1865 and the death of her great-great grandmother, Sarah
(Ansell) Minerd.

~
Son Charles J. Rose ~

Son Charles J. Rose (1909-1989)
was born on Oct. 17, 1909.

He married Margaret
Lancaster (1917-1954), a distant cousin who was the daughter of Matilda
Elizabeth (Miner) Grim Lancaster and granddaughter of Enoch
Miner Sr.

Charles was a
longtime coal miner for the Beacon Fuel and Coal Co. of the
Normalville area.

In January 1930, the Colborn Motor Company filed a civil law suit
against Charles for an unpaid bill of $23.70 "for goods sold and
delivered." The case was heard by cousin William
Henry "Squire" Miner, a justice of the peace in Mill Run. Margaret died at age 37 on Dec. 20,
1954, leaving Charles a widower at age 45.

Tragically, son Melvin --
an employee of Eastern Associated Coal Company at Hunker, Westmoreland County,
PA -- was killed in a head-on automobile collision
near Connellsville in June 1976, at the age of 31. Adding to the heartache,
grandson Harold Douglas Pirl (1974-1977), drowned in Indian Creek at age
three near his home; grandson Timothy Daniel Pirl (1961-1997) died at age 35 of
injuries sustained in an automobile accident in 1997; and grandson Rev. Larry S.
Rose was killed in a vehicular accident at age 36 near Kreager, Westmoreland
County, in December 2002.

Charles passed away at age 79
on April 18, 1989. At the time of his death, he and Margaret had produced 32
grandchildren and 30 Grandchildren.

Daughter Elender
Rose
(1935-1992) was born in 1935. She married Harold D. Pirl (1928-2010), the son of William and Elsie
(Porterfield) Pirl. They resided in Rogers Mill, where Harold "was a
sawmill worker for various sawmills in the area," said the Connellsville
Daily Courier. They had seven children -- Thomas Pirl, Timothy Daniel Pirl,
Donald Pirl, William Pirl, Linda Bentz, Virginia Swope and Della Smith. Eleanor
passed away first, on Aug. 4, 1992. Harold died in the Harmon
House in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, on Sept. 2, 2010, at the age of 81.
He was laid to eternal rest in Normalville Cemetery, following a funeral led by
Rev. Terry Upton. The Courier noted that he was survived by 13
grandchildren and 28 Grandchildren.

Granddaughter Virginia
Pirl married Arnold Hensel and Roy J. Swope (1935-1998). She had three
children: Harold Douglas Pirl, Charles Pirl and Kimberly Pirl. Her second
husband, Roy Swope, died on Aug. 15, 1998, with burial in Normalville
Cemetery.

Grandson Timothy Daniel
Pirl (1961-1997) was born on July 16, 1961. He died just five days before
his 36th birthday on July 10, 1997.

Granddaughter Della
Pirl married Ricky Smith.

Grandson Donald
Pirl

Granddaughter Linda
Pirl wed James Bentz.

Grandson Thomas
Pirl married Tammy.

Grandson William
Pirl married Jackie.

Son Percy B.
Rose (1940 - ? ) was born on May 10, 1940. He lived in Irwin, Westmoreland
County in 2012.

Normalville
Cemetery

Daughter Alverta Mae Rose
(1937-2012) was born on Aug. 26, 1937 in Normalville. Her first husband was Harry Dilford Swope
( ? - ? ), whom she married in 1955 in Connellsville. They produced three known
children -- Bishop Robert Swope Sr., Cindy Knieriem and Hazel Boyd. Later, in
about 1962, she wed Dan F. "Tucker" "Bones" Porterfield
(1936-2012), the son of Ben and Leona (Ritenour) Porterfield. The couple
produced a son of their own, Dan Porterfield Jr. They were members of the New
Apostolic Tabernacle of Keisterville, Fayette County, and Dan belonged to the
KFC Bowling League, Eagles 493 and Slovak Club. Dan was employed by a railroad
company and later went to work for the Connellsville School District, a position
from which he retired. Said the Connellsville Daily Courier, he
"enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, softball, horseshoes and spending time
with his family." The Porterfields passed away in the same year, ending a
marriage which had lasted for half a century -- Dan first on June 12, 2012, at
the age of 75, and Alverta on Sept. 30, 2012, at the age of 75, in the Harmon
House in Mount Pleasant. An obituary in the Daily Courier said she was
survived by 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Burial was in
Normalville Cemetery.

Grandson Bishop
Robert Swope Sr. married Anna Mae and dwelled in Connellsville. In 2012, he
officiated at the funeral of his stepfather and mother.

Granddaughter
Cindy Swope married Marvin Knieriem ( ? -2000), son of Eugene L. and Bettie
(Evans) Knieriem. They had at least one son, Merv Knieriem. Tragically,
Marvin was shot and killed in a home invasion on May 13, 2000, at the hands
of a South Connellsville man. The killer was convicted of second degree
murder and is serving a life sentence plus a second term of seven to 24
years at the SCI-Dallas Prison. She resided as a widow in Irwin,
Westmoreland County.

Granddaughter
Hazel Swope married Mike Boyd and dwelled in Connellsville.

Grandson Dan
"Huck" Porterfield Jr. was wedded to Joanne and made their home in
Connellsville.

Normalville
Cemetery

Son Melvin Carl
Rose (1944-1976) was born on Sept. 12, 1944. He married his first wife, Caroline
Jennings ( ? - ? ), and
they had two children: Thelma Denise Darrell Meyers and Melvin Carl Rose Jr. He
later wed Nancy Lee Basinger (1945-living). Melvin tragically was killed in an automobile
accident on the Springfield Pike on June 15, 1976, at the age of 32.

Son Joseph V.
Rose (1948-1999) was born on Dec. 29, 1948. He married Mary L. Knopsnider
and later Linda L. Pahel Hoyman. He is said to have had eight children: Jenni
Rose, Amanda Rose, Kayla Rose, Joseph V. Rose Jr., Jeffrey Rose, Tyler Rose,
Preston Rose and Hayley Rose. Joseph Sr. died on June 16, 1999, at age 51, with
burial in Normalville Cemetery.

Daughter
Christine Rose was married twice. One of her spouses was Holbert Victor. Another
was George Porterfield. In 2012, the Porterfields resided in Connellsville.

She married widower George
Scott Donaldson (1893-1978). He had been married once before, to Carrie
Elizabeth Clayton, who had died in 1932.

Said the Daily Courier, George
"was a resident of Normalville for over 50 years. He was employed as a
timberman. He also worked for the TV Railroad, Bethlehem Steel and Vang
Construction Company." The Donaldsons attended the Assembly of God Church.

George passed away at age 84 on May 4, 1978, and was
buried in Normalville Cemetery. At the time
of his death, they had produced 25 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and two
great-great grandchildren.

She married Dewey W. Swope (1915-1967) on Sept. 4, 1937, when she was age 23 and
he 22.

They
were lifetime residents of Normalville, and were members of the Church of Jesus
Christ at Clinton.

They no children of their own, but raised three of their Durstine nieces who
were sisters -- Ivy
Christman, Margie Dumbauld and Kay Pletcher.

Dewey passed away at age 51 on
March 29, 1967, and was buried at Normalville Cemetery.

Zola outlived her husband by almost a quarter of a century. She died on Aug.
19, 1991, with burial in Normalville Cemetery.

~
Daughter Zella (Rose) Durstine ~

Daughter Zella Rose
(1916-2011) was born on New Year's Eve 1916 in Rogers Mills, Fayette County.

She
married Joseph P. Durstine
(1915-1984),
a coal miner, in August 1938.

The Durstines had no children. They resided in Normalville for many years,
where Zella was employed in Uniontown Hospital as a licensed practical nurse and in about 1971
moved to Washington, D.C. Later, they moved to Florida, where Zella
continued her occupation as a licensed practical nurse. She also was the owner
of Paradise Valley Restaurant, and in her spare time was an evangelist preaching
the "ole time religion," said the Connellsville Daily Courier.

Joseph passed away
in 1984.

At some point Zella
returned to Fayette County. In her later years, she focused on travel and Gospel
preaching as "a statesman of the sermon and a scholar of the
scriptures," said the Courier. Among her favorite hymns was "In
the Sweet By and By."

Suffering from
Alzheimer's, Zella passed away at the age of 94, in Excela Health Frick Hospital
in Mt. Pleasant, PA, on Dec. 2, 2011. Following a funeral led by Rev. Mark
Shotis, she was laid to rest in the Normalville Cemetery. She was the last
surviving member of her immediate family, and one of the last living
grandchildren of a Civil War soldier in our expanded,
massive clan.